Transparent Combo?

I'm currently using an Ampeg PF-500 and PF-115he cabs. I'm run through FOH everywhere I play, and I figure that's 95% of what people hear. While I like the sound and portability of my PF rig, I'm interested in finding something with a more natural sound reproduction, more like the PA would produce. I want to get a better idea of what people are hearing and how my pedals/bass are affecting that sound. What would you guys recommend? As far as wattage/speakers, the rig will primarily be used for home practice and monitoring on stage. The PF-500 and one of the 15" cabs usually cover me fine. I've only had to use the second one a few times on outdoor gigs when a crappy PA was supplied.

my only advice would be, be cautious about the concept of transparency from the get-go. No amp or cab is acoustically transparent, all of them will impart some tonal influence. Greenboy cabs have a rep for "only reproducing what you put it them" but there are many here who feel they also impart a certain kind of character. Good if you want that, less good if you don't.

I suppose if your goal is to hear your bass as it sounds through a PA, perhaps pickup a current gen power amp and a PA style 2way or 3way cab from Carvin or JBL or whoever. I believe the Greenboy journey was somewhat influenced way back by the use of one of the Carvin LS series 3 way PA cabs.
(by saying this, please GB fans, do not offer a lecture on the holy provenance of the GB designs - I mean no disrespect )

The trick will always be the preamp section and the inherent voice of that element in the signal chain. You could try a small PA style mixer and just not boost any of the eq settings.

I am not at all sure you will be able to get what you seek in any combo amp that I am aware of.

I'm currently using an Ampeg PF-500 and PF-115he cabs. I'm run through FOH everywhere I play, and I figure that's 95% of what people hear. While I like the sound and portability of my PF rig, I'm interested in finding something with a more natural sound reproduction, more like the PA would produce. I want to get a better idea of what people are hearing and how my pedals/bass are affecting that sound. What would you guys recommend? As far as wattage/speakers, the rig will primarily be used for home practice and monitoring on stage. The PF-500 and one of the 15" cabs usually cover me fine. I've only had to use the second one a few times on outdoor gigs when a crappy PA was supplied.

my only advice would be, be cautious about the concept of transparency from the get-go. No amp or cab is acoustically transparent, all of them will impart some tonal influence. Greenboy cabs have a rep for "only reproducing what you put it them" but there are many here who feel they also impart a certain kind of character. Good if you want that, less good if you don't.

I suppose if your goal is to hear your bass as it sounds through a PA, perhaps pickup a current gen power amp and a PA style 2way or 3way cab from Carvin or JBL or whoever. I believe the Greenboy journey was somewhat influenced way back by the use of one of the Carvin LS series 3 way PA cabs.
(by saying this, please GB fans, do not offer a lecture on the holy provenance of the GB designs - I mean no disrespect )

The trick will always be the preamp section and the inherent voice of that element in the signal chain. You could try a small PA style mixer and just not boost any of the eq settings.

I am not at all sure you will be able to get what you seek in any combo amp that I am aware of.

good luck

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Great, great advice!

And yeah, indeed, the fEARful evolved from experiments using and modifiying the older Carvin LS 1503 cabs for bass.

my only advice would be, be cautious about the concept of transparency from the get-go. No amp or cab is acoustically transparent, all of them will impart some tonal influence.

Click to expand...

True, but some less than others. I have bass cabs that pull double duty as home stereo speakers and/or home studio monitors. One of my bass cabs has been specified (by the acoustician) for tracking monitor duty in a professional recording studio that is under construction.